Asphalt Materials and Uses

You can find all asphalt binder materials used on TxDOT projects in Item 300, Asphalts, Oils,
and Emulsions, and a few special provisions to Item 300. Item 300, Table 18 (shown below)
describes material applications and the typical materials used for that application.
Table 18
Typical Material Use
Material
Typically Used Materials
Application
Hot-Mixed, Hot-Laid PG Binders, Modified PG Binders, Asphalt-Rubber Types I and II
Asphalt Mixtures
Surface Treatment AC-5, AC-10, AC-5 w/2% SBR, AC-10 w/2% SBR, AC-15P, AC-20-5TR, HFRS-2, MS-2,
CRS-2, CRS-2H, HFRS-2P, CRS-2P, A-R binders Types II and III
Surface Treatment RS-1P, CRS-1P, RC-250, RC-800, RC-3000, MC-250, MC-800, MC-3000, MC-2400L
(Cool Weather)
Precoating AC-5, AC-10, PG 64-22, SS-1, SS-1H, CSS-1, CSS-1H
Tack Coat PG Binders, SS-1H, CSS-1H, EAP&T
Fog Seal SS-1, SS-1H, CSS-1, CSS-1H
Hot-Mixed, Cold-Laid AC-0.6, AC-1.5, AC-3, AES-300, AES-300P, CMS-2, CMS-2S
Asphalt Mixtures
Patching Mix MC-800, SCM I, SCM II, AES-300S
Recycling AC-0.6, AC-1.5, AC-3, AES-150P, AES-300P, recycling agent, emulsified recycling agent
Crack Sealing SS-1P, polymer mod AE crack sealant, rubber asphalt crack sealers (Class A, Class B)
Microsurfacing CSS-1P
Prime MC-30, AE-P, EAP&T, PCE
Curing Membrane SS-1, SS-1H, CSS-1, CSS-1H, PCE
Erosion Control SS-1, SS-1H, CSS-1, CSS-1H, PCE

A more in-depth explanation of the use and the asphalt binder characteristics of the various
materials (including some found in special provisions) follow.

Section 1. Nomenclature
Understanding the nomenclature will go a long way in helping to understand material properties
and how to select a particular binder for a specific application.

Performance Graded (PG) Binders

PG binders are normally used for production of hot mixed asphalt concrete (HMA). Embedded
in the PG binder nomenclature are the temperature extremes under which the HMA pavement
must perform (to resist rutting, fatigue, and thermal cracking). The nomenclature uses the form
PG XX-YY. A grade is determined by indicating the high temperature (XX) and low
temperature (-YY) for performance. The - is really a negative sign, as the low temperature is a
negative number. As an example, we (the user) expect PG 64-22 to perform at a high
temperature of 64C (metric) and a low temperature of -22C. The grading system uses
increments of 6C for the high and low temperature designation. The specification (Item 300,
Table 17) shows high temperatures of 58, 64, 70, 76, and 82 and low temperatures of -16, -22, -
28, and -34. The high temperature designation represents the 7-day average high pavement
temperature. The low temperature designation represents the low pavement temperature. For a
discussion of the development of the PG binder specification, refer to the Superpave Binder
Specification.

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Asphalt Cement (AC)
Most AC binders are used in hot applied surface treatments, but other uses include precoating,
tack coat, and recycling. The AC nomenclature uses numbers to indicate the stiffness or
viscosity of the asphalt. As the number get higher, the binder gets stiffer/harder. Designations
are added for polymer additives (SBR for styrene-butadiene-rubber, P for styrene-butadiene-
styrene block copolymer, and TR for tire rubber). Application temperatures of asphalt cements,
especially the more viscous grades, are from 300F to 400F.

Asphalt-Rubber (A-R) Binder

A-R binders are typically used in surface treatments and A-R HMA. A-R ingredients are PG or
AC binder and a minimum of 15% crumb rubber modifier (CRM), with the blend to meet the
requirements of Item 300, Table 16. (CRM is recycled granulated tire rubber from passenger
and truck tires. The requirements for CRM are in Section 300.2.G. and Table 13.) Manufacture
of A-R requires mixing the asphalt and rubber in specialized tanks at high temperature and
digesting or cooking for an hour or more to partially dissolve the rubber. This imparts a
rubbery gooey characteristic to the blend. Types I, II, and III are the designations. For A-R
Binders, as the number (Type) gets higher, the material gets softer (opposite other designation
nomenclatures). These designations and properties are the same as in ASTM D 6114.
Application temperatures approach 400F.

Asphalt Emulsion
Emulsions are mixtures of AC- or PG-type binders, water, emulsifying agents, and may contain
other additives. They are suspensions of very small asphalt droplets in water. The emulsifying
agent keeps the droplets suspended. This suspension allows the use of lower application
temperatures, typically ambient to 180F.

Emulsion nomenclature is more complicated than any other binder nomenclature. Emulsion
nomenclature describes the type, speed of break, viscosity of the emulsion, stiffness/hardness of
the residue binder, and presence of any additives in this order. A C is the designation for
cationic (positive charge) emulsions. Emulsions not using a C are anionic (negative charge).
An HF designation indicates high float which is a gelling property that prevents runoff after
application. An RS for rapid set, MS for medium set, and SS for slow set describes the
speed of emulsion break. A number, usually a 1 or 2 designate the emulsion viscosity. The
1 is a low viscosity (resistance to flow usually measured at application temperatures) emulsion
used for such applications as fog sealing where we want the emulsion to flow into cracks and
crevices. The 2 is a high viscosity emulsion used for such applications as surface treatments.
An H suffix indicates a stiffer/harder emulsion residue (the asphalt that remains after all the
water evaporates). The designation for an additive may be a P for (polymer either SBR or
SBS) or an S for added solvent or fuel oil modifier for longer cold-mix stockpile life. The
addition of polymers and other modifiers is intended to increase adhesion, increase service life,
and increase the chances of success of a seal coat.
Several examples of nomenclature are in order.
CRS-2 is a cationic, rapid setting, high viscosity emulsion;
HFRS-2P is an anionic, high float, rapid setting, high viscosity, polymer modified emulsion;
CSS-1H is a cationic, slow setting, low viscosity, harder residue emulsion; and
CMS-2S is a cationic, medium setting, high viscosity emulsion with some added fuel oil for
increased stockpile life (used for patching mixes).

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For a more in-depth discussion on asphalt emulsion chemistry, the differences between anionic
and cationic emulsions, and how the chemistry affects the break and cure, refer to Asphalt
Emulsion.

Cutback Asphalt
Cutback asphalts are mixtures of asphalt cements and solvents. Solvents lower the viscosity of
the asphalt cement in order to apply cutbacks with less heat, at lower pavement temperatures
(such as wintertime surface treatments), or allow the asphalt to penetrate a base (priming).
Cutbacks have a nomenclature that describes their curing rate and viscosity. Curing rate
designations are either rapid curing (RC) or medium curing (MC). This describes the volatility
of the solvent used to manufacture the material. A rapid curing cutback uses naphtha or gasoline
type solvent (highly volatile). A medium curing cutback uses kerosene type solvent (less
volatile). Additionally, there is a number from 30 to 3000 to describe the viscosity. The lower
the number, the more solvent the product contains and the lower the viscosity of the cutback.
MC-30 contains approximately 35 to 40% solvent while an MC-3000 contains only about 5%
solvent.

Cutback asphalts are generally not environmentally friendly. While the added solvent reduces
the viscosity for application, the solvent eventually evaporates and becomes a source of
emissions that affect nonattainment requirements. Regulations, enforced by the Texas
Commission on Environmental Quality, prohibit or limit the use of cutbacks for certain
applications and time periods in ozone nonattainment areas. Specifically, cutback asphalt cannot
be used in non-attainment areas from April 15 to September 15, except for priming bases and
making patching mixes.

Section 2. Asphalt Selection

Hot-Mixed, Hot-Laid Asphalt Mixtures
All current hot mix specifications require the use of either performance graded binders or
asphalt rubber. Item 340, Dense-Graded Hot-Mix Asphalt (Method); Item 341, Dense-
Graded Hot-Mix Asphalt (QC/QA); and Item 344, Performance-Designed Mixtures, all
require the use of PG binders. Item 342, Permeable Friction Course, and Item 346, Stone-
Matrix Asphalt, requires either a PG 76-YY binder or Asphalt-Rubber (Type I or II).

Performance Graded Binders - Select PG binders based on climate, confidence level, traffic
speed, and traffic volume. There are several tools a designer or an Area Engineer can use to
select the binder. There are climate-based maps at 95% and 98% confidence levels and an
automated Excel spreadsheet (PGEXCEL3.XLS) that uses longitude, latitude, and confidence
level as inputs. These allow the selection of the climate based binder grade. High traffic
(load) volumes or slow speeds may be reasons to increase the high temperature portion of the
binder grade by one or two levels. For a discussion and help in selecting a PG binder, refer to
Superpave Binder Materials Selection Procedures.

The TxDOT specification for PG binders includes a test called Elastic Recovery (ER) for any
binder with a temperature grade span of 92 or more. This ER requirement gets higher for
increasing grade span. This requirement effectively requires the use of an elastic polymer
additive in the manufacture of the binder. Polymers add cost (materials and processing) to the
base binder and result in increased price. The higher the grade span, the more polymer, and
generally a higher price.
Construction Division 3 October 2006
 Asphalt Rubber - A-R Binders, Types I and II, can be used in PFC and SMA. Type I is a
stiffer/harder product than Type II. Due to the addition of CRM and the processing that is
required, the price of Asphalt-Rubber is higher than that of a standard PG binder and may be
higher than many high-grade PG binders

Surface Treatments (Hot and Warm Weather)

For Item 316, Surface Treatments, generally use AC-5, AC-10, AC-5 w/2% SBR, AC-10
w/2% SBR, AC-15P, AC-20XP, AC-20-5TR, HFRS-2, MS-2, CRS-2, CRS-2H, HFRS-2P, or
CRS-2P. For Item 318, Hot Asphalt-Rubber Surface Treatments, AR Type II or Type III is
used. The choice of binder is dependent on material, traffic, and environmental factors.

The first consideration is to use hot applied AC binders or asphalt emulsion binders. AC binders
are 100% asphalt, while emulsions are approximately 2/3 asphalt and 1/3 water.

Hot Applied Binders - Among the AC binders typically used for surface treatments, AC-5
and AC-10 contain no polymer additives. Before the introduction of polymer modified
binders, these were the workhorses of the surface treatment industry. The distributor
typically applies these binders at 275F 350F. They are the least expensive materials but
the probability of success is less than modified materials and the probability of success
decreases with increasing environmental requirements (increased traffic, cooler temperature,
etc.). These materials have performed well in the past and can provide for good service
under the right conditions and application procedures.

TxDOT began using polymer-modified binders for surface treatments in the 1960s on bridge
decks. Polymer modified binders have a reputation for better initial rock retention (adhesion)
than their unmodified counterparts. Increased traffic and the desire or requirement to open
the road to traffic faster has resulted in polymer-modified binders being the material of
choice. Polymers used are typically SBR Latex, SBS Block-Copolymer and Tire Rubber.
Application temperatures for modified binders are typically 300F 375F. However,
polymer modifiers will degrade with prolonged storage at high temperatures and application
temperatures should be as low as possible.

In 2005, polymer modified binders had 2/3 of the AC market compared to unmodified
binders.

All AC binders for surface treatments, whether polymer modified or not, require the
application of aggregate before the hot AC binder cools. Heat reduces the binder viscosity,
allowing aggregate to embed in and adhere to the binder. If the binder cools before
aggregate application, the chances of a successful surface treatment are diminished.

Asphalt Emulsions - Emulsions have their modified and nonmodified versions too. In the
past, the predominant materials were CRS-2 and HFRS-2. Now, the predominant materials
are CRS-2P and HFRS-2P. CHFRS-2P, a relatively new material is gaining use. Polymer
modified emulsions are used 4 to 1 over nonmodified emulsions. CRS-2P is the most
specified asphalt emulsion for surface treatments.

Construction Division 4 October 2006

 Application temperatures for emulsions (polymer modified or not) are typically between
140F and 160F. Since they are 1/3 water, they can never be heated above 212F. The
lower application temperatures will not damage polymers in the asphalt and are much safer
for field personnel.

HF emulsions contain an additive that functions as a thickener (or viscosity builder) under
low shear conditions but does not affect the flow properties under high shear. This produces
an emulsion that has application properties like their non-HF counterparts, but thickens and
resists flow after application. This helps prevent runoff on roads with significant cross-slope
or vertical-slope.

Asphalt residue is what holds the aggregate on the seal coat. Emulsions require higher
emulsion application rates than hot applied systems since they contain approximately 1/3
water. However, the residual asphalt does not have to be quite as much as hot applied
systems due to a meniscus effect of the emulsion on the aggregates. Rocks are initially
embedded in the emulsion (aggregate should be applied as soon as possible after emulsion
application, before the emulsion starts to break), and as the emulsion loses its water, the
remaining residual binder level is lower between the rocks, but still is attached to the rocks at
the initial embedment depth. The result is higher effective embedment depth with a lower
residual asphalt rate.

A-R Binders - Item 318 uses A-R Type II or III. Type II is a stiffer/harder binder that could
be useful in hotter climates. Type III is softer and useful in not-quite-so-hot areas. Most
people specify Item 318 in areas that are more demanding in performance than where they
would use a standard surface treatment (Item 316), such as locations with higher traffic or
turning movements. A-R binders are typically more costly than any of the AC or Emulsified
Asphalt binders used in Item 316, so this additional performance justification is necessary.

Material Selection Considerations

AC binders:
they are 100% binder and binder is what will be left on the road to hold the aggregate
in place;
the road can be opened to traffic as soon as the rock is rolled and the binder has
cooled;
polymer-modified versions are available to help early chip retention, handle higher
traffic volumes, and wider temperature extremes;
they must be applied at high temperatures which are more dangerous for field
personnel and could harm polymer modifiers;
they may not work well with wet or dusty aggregates and therefore usually require
aggregate precoating.

Asphalt Emulsions:
they require break and cure times resulting in more elapsed time before opening to
traffic;
cationic rapid setting materials (CRS) break and cure faster than any other emulsion
type;
polymer-modified versions are available to help early chip retention, handle higher
traffic volumes, and wider temperature extremes;

Construction Division 5 October 2006

 application temperatures are lower, which are safer for field personnel and dont
injure polymer modifiers;
usually do not require precoating of the aggregate and can better handle damp or
dusty aggregate;
residual asphalt rates do not have to be as high as hot applied systems due to the
meniscus effect; and
additives, like high float, can change the emulsion application characteristics without
effecting residue properties

Surface Treatments (Cool Weather)

When applying surface treatments in cool weather, we (the user) are concerned with getting the
aggregate to bond with the asphalt at lower temperatures. This is more difficult and requires that
the materials maintain a lower viscosity at the lower road temperatures so the aggregate can
embed in the binder layer and adhere to the asphalt. The way to do this is by either using a softer
asphalt (or emulsion residue) or by adding solvents. The materials to use include RS-1P, CRS-
1P, RC-250, RC-800, RC-3000, MC-250, MC-800, MC-3000, or MC-2400L. The RS-1P and
CRS-1P are emulsions formulated with the softer residues needed for the cool temperatures. The
RC and MC cutbacks use solvents in varying amounts to lower the viscosity. When the solvent
evaporates, a harder binder is left. The MC-2400L contains an SBR modifier and is very sticky.

Applying surface treatments in cool weather can be a hit or miss proposition. If the weather
turns warm, these softer materials can be too soft to hold the rock. We rely on low viscosity on
application for the aggregate to adhere, but we need environmental aging to stiffen the binder
before warmer weather arrives. Work in the late fall early wintertime is actually safer than
working in later winter early spring. There will be enough time to cure/harden/loose volatiles
in the late fall early winter so the binder will not be too soft when the warmer weather arrives.

To make success more likely, one may want to use RS-1P, CRS-1P, MC-250, MC-800,
MC-3000, or MC-2400L in the late fall early winter period as these materials are softer for a
longer time and need the time to develop the stiffness needed for warm weather. Use RC-250,
RC-800, and RC-3000 in the late winter early spring, as these materials will loose the solvent
more rapidly and gain the stiffness needed for warm weather faster. Cutbacks require a curing
period before placing subsequent courses to prevent trapping volatiles in subsurface layers.
Remember that cutback usage may be limited or prohibited in certain areas.

Precoating
The purpose of precoating is to reduce aggregate dust and improve adhesion. Materials usually
used for precoating include AC-5, AC-10, PG 64-22, SS-1, SS-1H, CSS-1, and CSS-1H. The
ACs and PG are 100% asphalt binder products. The emulsions are SS for Slow Setting and
can coat aggregate before they start to break. Sometimes people question whether an
incompatibility could exist when using emulsions for precoating. The precoating process
removes the water and there should be no compatibility issues, even when using an emulsion for
a surface treatment binder. Opinions differ on the amount of coating that precoated aggregates
should have. Some want the aggregate to look like a robins egg (speckled) and others want to
see a complete coating. The answer is - what works is good. Precoating should be sufficient to
reduce dust and provide for good adhesion. The one sure thing is, you can have too much
precoating, which will cause the aggregate to clump together, making it difficult to impossible to
load and distribute. Precoating is a good idea for aggregates that tend to generate dust during
transportation and manipulation. Precoating slows down the break and cure of surface
Construction Division 6 October 2006
treatments constructed with asphalt emulsion binders (the rock cannot absorb moisture, which
would hasten the break and cure).

Tack Coat
Tack coat binders include CSS-1H, SS-1H, and PG Binders. Other materials must be shown on
the plans or require approval of the Engineer. There have been some problems using emulsion
tack coats when the emulsion is diluted before application. The main thing to remember is to
ensure the proper amount of residual asphalt is applied. Emulsions are already 35% water and
diluting them reduces further the asphalt content. Field debonding problems have arisen when
the emulsion was diluted several times, and no one ended up knowing the asphalt content. The
resulting dirty water being applied as tack did not result in sufficient residual asphalt to
provide a good tack for next layer of HMA. If you use an emulsion, make sure you get the
residual asphalt application you want. The specifications state that the Engineer sets the rate at
between 0.04 and 0.1 gallons per square yard of residual asphalt.

Fog Seal
Fog sealing is a practice to fill small cracks in HMA or provide additional binder to a surface
treatment that may be loosing aggregate. As such, the binder needs to be very fluid. Fog seal
materials are asphalt emulsions such as SS-1, SS-1H, CSS-1, and CSS-1H. The SS emulsions
are slow setting and very stable. They are low viscosity and they can be further diluted with
water (make sure the water is not too hard or the emulsion could break) to thin them even more.
The low viscosity of the diluted emulsion enables it to flow into fine cracks or between aggregate
pieces. The H designation emulsions have a harder asphalt residue that you may want for
hotter climates. Field observations verify that fog seals can assist in retaining aggregate whether
placed on dry patches under surface treatments or placed between the travel lanes and between
the wheel paths after the application of a surface treatment.

Hot-Mixed, Cold-Laid Asphalt Mixtures

Item 334, Hot-Mix Cold-Laid Asphalt Concrete Pavement, requires a binder that, after mixing
in a HMA plant (not as hot as a HMA), can be laid at ambient temperatures and retains
workability when stockpiled. Mixtures loose workability when they loose volatiles and get so
stiff/hard that they cannot be removed from the stockpile or cannot be placed in potholes or
bladed into place. Binders typically selected for these materials include AC-0.6, AC-1.5, AC-3,
AES-300, AES-300P, CMS-2, and CMS-2S. The AC binders are actually just softer versions of
the ones used for surface treatments. Being softer, they are more workable in a HMCL mixture.
The emulsions typically have a very soft binder residue. The addition of some fuel oil type
material to any of these binders can help the mixture remain workable in the stockpile longer.
See the specifications and look for the residue penetration (higher is softer) and oil distillate
(more means longer stockpile life). The AES-300 and AES-300P are anionic emulsions with
very soft residues that do not fit the standard emulsion nomenclature

Limestone Rock Asphalt (LRA)

Limestone Rock Asphalt contains a quarried limestone naturally impregnated with native
asphalt, to which the producer adds a flux oil or blend of flux oil and aromatic oil. The flux oil
softens the natural asphalt and allows this flux oil-asphalt blend to bind the particles of limestone
together in a mixture. LRA is produced at ambient temperatures and behaves similar to hot-
mixed, cold-laid asphalt mixtures. LRA can be stockpiled for use and can remain workable in the
stockpile for 6 months or more. The flux oil is usually blended by the LRA producer and may be
a proprietary formulation. There are no binder choices to be made on the part of TxDOT.
Construction Division 7 October 2006
Patching Mix
Patching potholes can require a specialized material. Patching mixes are similar to HMCL.
They usually have specialized gradations and slower curing binders with solvents added to help
them remain workable in a stockpile in cold, wet weather. Stockpile life can be up to 1 year.
The materials typically used include MC-800, SCM I, SCM II, and AES-300S. MC-800 has a
kerosene type solvent added to an AC binder. The SCM materials are similar to AC-10 with
varying amount of diesel fuel added. The also usually have anti-strip agents added to prevent
stripping in the stockpile and in the pothole. The AES-300S is an anionic emulsion as described
in the HMCL section, except that is contains additional fuel oil for stockpile life.

Recycling
Recycling agents fall into 2 types, soft asphalts and true recycling agents that try to correct
deficiencies in aged binders. Typical materials used are AC-0.6, AC-1.5, AC-3, AES-150P,
AES-300P, recycling agent, and emulsified recycling agent. The goal in recycling is to bring the
binder back to some specified condition. For instance, one could specify that the blend of
binders in a new mixture composed of virgin binder, RAP binder, and recycling agents need to
meet the requirements of a PG 64-22.

Crack Sealing
Crack Sealing is a preventative maintenance operation with the goal of keeping moisture from
entering a pavement structure and weakening the base. Typical crack seal materials are SS-1P,
polymer modified asphalt emulsion crack sealant, and rubber asphalt crack sealers (Class A and
Class B). All crack sealers are applied on the crack and squeegeed to force sealer into the crack
and remove excess sealer from the surface.

The SS-1P and polymer modified asphalt emulsion crack sealant are formulated to be applied at
ambient temperatures and flow into cracks to seal them. Since they flow into the crack, asphalt
emulsions are effective for cracks up to 1/8 inch in width. Squeegeeing removes the surface
materials and they generally do not bleed through subsequent surface treatments.

Asphalt rubber crack sealers, consisting of asphalt and 20 percent or more recycled tire rubber,
are hot applied and squeegeed into a crack. They solidify when they cool. In reality most of the
material ends up as a band on top of the crack. Because they do not tend to flow into the crack,
rubber asphalt crack sealers are more effective for sealing cracks 1/8 inch and up. Asphalt rubber
crack sealers may have a longer life, but they tend to bleed through subsequent surface
treatments.

Microsurfacing
Item 350, Microsurfacing, requires the use of CSS-1P. According to the nomenclature, this is
a cationic, slow setting, low viscosity emulsion with a polymer modifier. Even though
microsurfacing uses only CSS-1P, there are several suppliers and each suppliers formulation
must be adjusted for the microsurfacing system used (aggregate, mineral filler, and other
additives).

Prime
Priming is the application of asphalt binder to the finished base material to provide some
waterproofing and enable it to bond to a subsequent pavement layer (surface treatment or HMA).
Typical materials used are MC-30, AE-P, EAP&T, and PCE. MC-30, according to the
nomenclature, is a medium curing, low viscosity cutback asphalt. MC-30 contains up to 40%
Construction Division 8 October 2006
kerosene, enabling it to soak into the base material. The other products are emulsions. Some are
emulsions of resins and others are asphalt emulsions with very fine particle sizes or contain
specialized surfactants. Whatever the mechanism, the goal is to penetrate the base, seal it, and
prepare it for additional pavement layers. For the emulsions, they penetrate some base materials
and not others. Experiment as necessary.

Emulsions like SS-1, SS-1H, CSS-1, and CSS-1H can be used for priming, but must be worked
into the top of the base because they do not penetrate on their own. Working in the prime
(emulsion) generally involves compacting the base, scarifying the top inch or so, adding the
emulsion, manipulating to mix, and then recompacting the base. This is generally more costly
than using a penetrating prime material because of the added steps.

Some emulsions like PCE can be used for prime coat under traffic because they are not
particularly tacky. Subsequent applications maintain the surface under traffic.

Curing Membrane
Curing membrane is an application of an emulsified binder on the surface of a cement, lime, or
lime-fly ash stabilized base. The goal is to seal moisture in the base to allow the stabilizing
material to react with the soil. Typical materials used are SS-1, SS-1H, CSS-1, CSS-1H, and
PCE. These materials usually form a moisture-proof membrane that traffic will destroy. It is
imperative that all traffic, including construction traffic, stay off the curing seal membrane until
the desired stabilizing actions have taken place.

Erosion Control
Erosion control products prevent soil or base material removal by wind or water action. Typical
materials are SS-1, SS-1H, CSS-1, CSS-1H, and PCE. They function similar to a curing
membrane, forming a protective crust on base or soil. The SS-1, SS-1H, CSS-1, and CSS-1H can
be used as a tacking agents for hay or straw mulch. For erosion control purposes, emulsions are
typically diluted 3 or 4 parts water to 1 part emulsion.

Section 3. Binder Selection Support

The Materials & Pavements Section of the Construction Division (CST-M&P) developed a
spreadsheet (Asphalt Binder Selection) that addresses selection guidance factors, relative
material performance, and relative cost issues. Additionally, the Asphalt and Chemical Branch of
CST-M&P is available to answer questions about materials selection and suitability. You may
contact Jerry Peterson, P.E. (512-506-5821) or Darren Hazlett, P.E. (512-506-5816).

Construction Division 9 October 2006